The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
The House FavorabIy Reports a Bill Of
Mr.. MiiIiken's.
The House Committee Agree on the
Belmont Retaliation Bill.
New Bills Presented by Senator FRYE
and Congressman DIngiey.
Another Lot of Pensions for
Maine Claimants.
Especial to the PREss.)

The House Committee on American ship
building and ship owning interests, have
favorably reported Mr.. Millikin's bill "to
amend section 1882 Of the Revised Statutes,
requiring copies Of temporary documents Of
vessels to be dated at their home ports" The
| law now provides that registered vessels Of
the United States may be enrolled and
licensed upon giving up their register in any
collection district. The bill adds new pro-
vision to the law requiring the collector who
issues the enrolment or license to forward
certified copy of the same to the collector o.
the port to which the vessel belongs, in order
that the changes in the character Of the yes
sci may be then kept on file for reference.
Fees to American Vessels.
The same committee has also favorably
reported bill ito amend an act to abolish
certain fees for official services to American
vessels, and to amend the laws relating to
shipping commissioners, seaman and own
ers Of vessels" This Is bin which was
necessary to make clear the intention Of Con-
gress, and to correct some omissions, on the
so called Dingley shipping bill, pa sed June
10th last. The first section makes clear the
intention of Congress to withhold the priyi-
leges Of the eleventh section Of the bill from
the vessels Of any country which discrimi-
mates against vessels Of the United States,
and also TO make it clear that the privilege of
the section are not intended TO be extended
to the coasting trade, nor on account Of the
most favored nation clause where special
concessions have been made ON conditions
and equivalents. The second clause supplies
ON. sell ~ taiarba ~ efa fNapaa-
tion and allowances for fees Of United States
Marshalls and witnesses in collision cases"
from the first section of the act, which trans
ferred the payment Of the compensation of
steamboat inspectors and other officers from
fund set apart from receipts for fees to the
general revenue in the treasury The re-
port is accompanied by the following letter
from the Secretary Of the Treasury which
shows the necessity for the passage Of the
bill;
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1887.
Sir:-I have before me copy OF III. X. bill
10703, which has been referred TO your com
mittee, and which proposes certain amend
ments of the act approved June 10, 1886, rel
atiye 10 shipping and navigation.
As bearing upon the question OF the expe-
diency OF the. proposed amendments, beg
ment has found difficulty In executing the
act above referred to.
The minister Of the Netherlands has given
satisfactory proof of the abolition by his
Government Of all discriminating duties or
charges in certain of its Lorts, and claims in
return for vessels coming from those ports
like exemption under the act Of June 10,
1886, in tie ports Of the United States. This
claim is made specifically under section II
OF that act.
The requirements Of the act having been
met by the Dutch Government, ii became
necessary to consider the form of the pr0cla-
nation, which the act makes requisite. The
affirmative part Of the proclamation was
plain, but difficulty was encountered when
the attempt was made to state the exclusion
from the benefits of the proclamation. BY
the said section IL it Is provided that the
proclamation to be issued hereunder. "shall
exclude from the benefits OF the suspension
(of duties, etc. herein authorized the yes
sells of any foreign country in whose ports
the fees or dues Of any kind or nature iui-
posed on vessels Of the United States, OF the
import or export duties on their carg0es are
In excess Of the fees, dues, or duties imposed
on the vessels Of the country in which such
port Is situated, or on the cargoes Of such
vessels"
1t was found that If the words, 'the coun-
try in which such ports Is situated, In the
sub-proviso, were made to relate back to
their only grammatical antecedent. namely,
the words such port and said port Of
the principal prOvis0, the effect would only
be to exclude from the benefits Of the pr0cla-
nation the vessels Of any third country
which should discriminate against vessels Of
the United States and In favor Of Dutch yes
sells, a contingency not likely TO occur In
practice.
1t is supposed that the object Of the sub
provisO Of section IL Of the act Of 1886 was 10
exclude from the benefit OF that section the
vessels of any foreign country in whose ports
the duties Of charges on vessels oil the United
States were greater than the duties OF eharg-
es imposed by such country on its own yes
vessels. The provisions of House bill No.
10,703 would, in my judgment, give that in
tention effect. | am, sir, your 0bedient ser
want, L. r. BAYARD.
Hon. +. DUNN, NJ. c.,
Chairman Select Committee ON American
Shlp-building and Ship-owning Interests.
House of Representatives.